County executive primary is today

Newcomer Haber, experienced Suozzi vie for Democratic nod

Posted
Wednesday, September 4, 2013 11:11 am

Tom Suozzi introduced some of the children who starred in his newest commercial, “Counting,” which criticizes the financial practices of current County Executive Ed Mangano. Suozzi is hoping to win the Democratic primary on Tuesday, which would setup a rematch with Mangano in November.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Adam Haber, speaking on the steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court building on Aug. 7, signed a pledge vowing to serve a full four-year term if elected as county executive. His is seeking the Democratic nod to run for the position.

Grace Poppe/Herald

Tom Suozzi, left, and Adam Haber, right, will be facing off in a Democratic primary on Sept. 10 for Nassau County executive.

Herald file photos

By Andrew Hackmack

Registered Democrats will head to the polls on Tuesday to select their candidate to run against Republican incumbent Ed Mangano in November.

Visit liherald.com tonight for the results of today's primary.

There are two possible outcomes. If party-nominated candidate Tom Suozzi emerges victorious, it would set up a rematch of the 2009 election, in which Mangano ousted Suozzi. Or, the nod could go to political newcomer Adam Haber, who is running a campaign that is mostly self-financed.

Four years ago, Mangano, who then was a county legislator, defeated Suozzi by fewer than 400 votes. The election took weeks to decide as ballots were counted and recounted. Since then, Suozzi has mostly stayed out of the political arena, working for Cablevision, a financial company and most recently the Harris Beach law firm. The two-term county executive said he has re-entered the political scene this year after Democratic Party leaders convinced him to try to win back the seat.

Haber, a self-described outsider to Nassau County politics, is hoping a name other than Suozzi’s will appear on the Democratic line of ballots for the first time since 1997. He has not held political office, but has been a member of the Roslyn School District Board of Education for the past four years. The father of two has worked in the financial sector in New York City and currently owns restaurants in Manhattan and Mineola.

Eyeing their opponents

Knowing that he is facing a candidate with name recognition, Haber has focused on his opponent in the primary election more so than the sitting county executive. Suozzi, on the other hand, has been in full attack mode against Mangano.

Haber has been critical of Suozzi’s eight years as county executive, specifically his handling of Nassau’s finances. Last month, standing on the steps of the Supreme Court building in Mineola, Haber announced his commitment to the job by signing a “Pledge to Nassau Residents.” The pledge stated that he will serve a full four-year term as Nassau County executive if elected.